CAMERON MACKINTOSH’S SPECTACULAR NEW PRODUCTION OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA WILL GRACE THE STAGE AT ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE
Opera Australia in association with The Really Useful Group, will present Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, making its highly anticipated premiere at the Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre from November 14th.
Waitlist now at phantomoftheopera.com.au
Marking almost 35 years to the day since it opened in London’s West End, before going on to become one of the most successful musicals of all time, this will be the first time it will be staged at Arts Centre Melbourne.
This spectacular new staging by Cameron Mackintosh premiered with a record-breaking sell out tour of the UK followed by a 7-year tour of the United States which grossed over US$400 million and thrilled critics and audiences alike. Australia is now only the third country to see this new PHANTOM with its beloved and thrilling score including the hit songs The Music of the Night, All I ask of You and Masquerade. With stunning new staging and scenic design, Maria Björnson’s iconic original costumes and many special effects including a spectacular new realisation of the show’s chandelier. It will be performed in Australia by a cast and orchestra of 65, making it one of the largest musical productions ever in Australia.
Cameron Mackintosh said, “I am thrilled to be able to bring this exciting new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA to Arts Centre Melbourne with its spectacular new staging by director Laurence Connor and fabulous designs by Paul Brown and Maria Bjornson. The unprecedented demand for tickets to this new Australian production has set box office records in Sydney and we look forward to an equally successful season in Melbourne, where my original production was a legendary success in 1990, running for over 2 1/2 years.”
Opera Australia’s Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini is thrilled to be presenting this new production of PHANTOM to Melbourne audiences after its record breaking run in Sydney.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for people to see one of the most iconic works in musical theatre history. We’re looking forward to continuing our work with Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber to present this production in Australia’s culture capital. Together we’re creating incredible theatre for audiences to enjoy and ongoing work opportunities for our arts industry.”
The cast will be led by Melbourne’s Josh Piterman playing the coveted role of The Phantom. Josh recently scored an impressive personal triumph playing the role in London’s West End before sadly the show had to close due to the pandemic. Josh is an established musical theatre performer and classical crossover artist who has been working consistently on Australian and UK stages over the past 15 years. His past credits include being a part of international pop opera group The Ten Tenors, Tony in the 2010 Australian production of West Side Story, Bustopher Jones/Gus/Growltiger in the 2015/16 Australian season of Cats (a role that won him the Green Room Award for best supporting actor in a Musical), Corny Collins in the UK tour of Hairspray and Gerry Goffin in the 2017/18 Australian tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
Further casting will be announced shortly.
PHANTOM IS AN ENORMOUS HIT ALL OVER AGAIN!
“Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ravishing score, intense and spectacular, a stunning new design with fresh drama and added momentum.”
Sunday Express
“Delight at the opera, this new Phantom soars to incredible heights.”
Manchester Evening News
“The Phantom is back. If you liked the show before, you’ll probably like this one even better.”
Seattle Times
“Extraordinarily opulent. This Phantom’s storytelling and relationships have an electrifying tension.”
Chicago Sun-Times
“Powerful, gorgeous…and better than ever.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Take a deep breath and prepare to be dazzled; this kind of gorgeous escapism is exactly what audiences need.”
The Scotsman (U.K.)
“This PHANTOM is for a new generation.”
Roy Leonard, Chicago Now
Directed by Laurence Connor with choreography by Scott Ambler, set design by Paul Brown, Tony Award®-winning original costume design by Maria Björnson lighting design by Tony Award®-winner Paule Constable and sound design by Mick Potter, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe), book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber, orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. This new production is overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in Australia is directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn and produced by Cameron Mackintosh, The Really Useful Group and Opera Australia.
Based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de L’Opéra by Gaston Leroux, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, excercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command.
STATE THEATRE, ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE FROM 14 NOVEMBER
TICKETS ON SALE TUESDAY 6 JULY
WAITLIST NOW AT PHANTOMOFTHEOPERA.COM.AU
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For more information on the production and a video sneak peek, please visit
phantomoftheopera.com.au